Jonathan Cooper’s first pitch as an NFL player is a strike

Published: Tuesday, April 30, 2013 at 03:02 AM.

Jonathan Cooper won’t play his first professional football game for the Arizona Cardinals until next fall, but he’s already made his Major League Baseball debut.

Sort of.

Twenty four hours after becoming the first offensive guard picked in the NFL draft, the former North Carolina and Hoggard High star was invited to throw out the ceremonial first pitch for Friday’s game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies.

Wearing a black Diamondbacks jersey with the No. 61 and his name on the back, Cooper posed for pictures, signed a few autographs then – after promising to throw “some cheddar” – fired a strike on the outside corner to pitcher Patrick Corbin.

Jonathan Cooper won’t play his first professional football game for the Arizona Cardinals until next fall, but he’s already made his Major League Baseball debut.

Sort of.

Twenty four hours after becoming the first offensive guard picked in the NFL draft, the former North Carolina and Hoggard High star was invited to throw out the ceremonial first pitch for Friday’s game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies.

Wearing a black Diamondbacks jersey with the No. 61 and his name on the back, Cooper posed for pictures, signed a few autographs then – after promising to throw “some cheddar” – fired a strike on the outside corner to pitcher Patrick Corbin.

Cooper celebrated by throwing his arms into the air, even if he did lose some style points for throwing the pitch from in front of the mound rather than from the rubber.

Of course, the 6-foot-2, 311-pound offensive guard won’t be being paid to throw baseballs. As the No. 7 overall selection in the NFL draft, the Wilmington native will be counted on by the Cardinals to help improve an offensive line that allowed.

“The last two days have been an absolute whirlwind,” Cooper Tweeted after his first visit to his new home. “God has truly blessed me and I’m so grateful.”